Shoe-block.



W. W. KIMBLE.

SHOE BLOCK. APPLICATION FILED JAN.18,1909.

94:3,9'7'5 Patented Dec.21,1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WYMAN W. KIMBLE, 0F HONESDALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHOE-BLOCK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VYMAN KiMnLE, citizen of the United States, residingat Honesdale, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Shoe- Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is designed to provide a support for use in cuttingleather, known as shoe blocks, though capable of use in othersituations. The particular use to which this invention is adapted is tosupport leather while it is being cut, by the use of dies. Prior to myinvention such a support has been proposed, made up of a series ofblocks held together, but the force of the die is such that it not onlycuts through the leather but enters the wood to a considerable distanceand frequently displaces the blocks, thus making a depression in thesurface of the support.

It is the object of my invention to avoid this difiiculty and render itimpossible, and this I accomplish by making the blocks of such a shapeas to provide projections or recesses where they come together, so as topresent blocks of such shape as to prevent displacement. That is, thefaces of the blocks in contact being so shaped as to present a variationin width between the upper and lower surface so that each block is boundtightly by its adjacent blocks, or the blocks between which it islocated and its displacement absolutely prevented.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a perspective view of myinvention, while Figs. 2, 8, 4c and 5 show forms of the blocks which Imay use.

In the figures it will be observed that the blocks are made up bysecuring together a series, as at a, clamped together by a framecomposed of side plates 1) and end plates 0, the side plates beingsecured at intervals as at (Z to certain of the blocks so as to preventSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 18, 1909.

Patented Dec. 21, 1909.

Serial No. 472,925.

displacement of the side plates. The blocks are easily replaced when thesurface is worn by loosening the bolts 0, and substituting fresh blocksfor the worn ones.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, I arrange the blocks with their adjacentsurfaces reverscly arranged as to inclination, Fig. 2 showing a blockhaving its side walls tapering in wardly to the center while Fig. 3shows the walls outwardly inclined but corresponding to the taper of theblock in Fig. \Vhen arranged together it will be seen that each block isheld between its two adjacent blocks and displacement prevented.

1 do not limit myself to the form of block shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 butmay curve the side walls, having one block provided with concave wallsand the other with convex walls as shown in Figs. -l and 5, and indeedthe walls may be given any other shape which will tend to lock one blockbetween its adjacent blocks and prevent any one block being forced outfrom between the adjacent blocks.

lVhat I claim is:

1. A supporting structure comprising a series of blocks one set havingenlarged centers and reduced ends and the other set reduced centers andenlarged ends whereby displacement of one block in relation to the otheris prevented, substantially as described.

A supporting structure comprising a series of blocks one set havingreduced centers and the other set correspondingly en larged centerswhereby locking engagement is effected between adjacent blocks and meansfor holding series of blocks together, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

V YMAN lV. Klh'lBTiFi.

\Vitnesses.

Fnno Summons, John N. Simnrs'rmm.

